Supervisors repeal dog ordinance
Board clears way for state law to determine dangerous dogs

The Floyd Press
Thursday, January 18, 2007

A public hearing on state-mandated changes to Floyd Countyâ€™s ordinance on dangerous dogs turned into a series of complaints about animal control officer Garland Nester last week.

Changes in Virginia law requires the county to either amend its existing ordinance on the handling of dangerous dogs or repeal the ordinance to allow the state statute to control the animal control officerâ€™s actions. Supervisors opted to repeal the existing ordinance and apply the state law, which expands the definitions on what determines a dangerous dog and requires magistrate approval to swear out a complaint.

Six county residents appeared at the late afternoon hearing and three spoke before the county board of supervisors and while one wanted clarification on the changes, others complained about how Nester handled dangerous dog cases.
J.C Holden of Copper Hill told supervisors he was â€œcaught upâ€

There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.